Songs 1&2

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series on “Great Greatest-Hits.”

In similar fashion to Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman, today we look at not one, but two greatest-hits releases by the late Rich Mullins.

Songs was released in 1996, a year prior to his death. It would also be the last time I would see him perform in concert–one of the first dates with my now wife Diana, at Houghton College.

The release marked his first decade, and his end with the Reunion label. He had signed with Myrrh Records but never released a studio album with them. He had recorded demos for The Jesus Record, which was released postumously as a set of demos on one CD and the finished product being performed by his friends and bandmates on a separate CD.

Songs begins with a hit that he penned for Amy Grant back in 1982, “Sing Your Praise to the Lord.” Somewhat surprisingly, this is the first time he had recorded it for his own project, but it seems fitting to be a special addition to this collection. His rendition isn’t that much different than Amy’s, though hers is a little more ubeat and polished while Rich’s version is a little softer with his trademark dulcimer hammer and acoustic/electric blend. He also adds a nice piano bridge reminiscent of his Liturgy album.

From there, the album continues the theme of praise with his signature worship song, “Awesome God,” the song that really launched Rich into a successful career. The next songs segue the worshipful mood with another successful praise song, “Sometimes by Step,” and the powerful response to secular academia and agnostic thought with, “Creed.”

The “worship set” from this album is bookended with another new song, “We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are,” a poetic reminder that our frail humanity and penchant for sin is nothing compared to the love and power of God.

From there, Rich continues to express his dependance upon the Lord with, “If I Stand.” That more serious and somber song is followed by the fun “Screen Door” and cheerful “Let Mercy Lead.” Next is the lesser-known “Elijah,” which could have easily been omitted, but perhaps was divinely inspired to be included as a somewhat prophetic piece a year before his tragic death as a way for fans to listen, reflect and maybe even smile a bit a year later.

“But when I leave I want to go out like Elijah
With a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire
And when I look back on the stars
It’ll be like a candlelight in Central Park
And it won’t break my heart to say goodbye“

The rest of Songs is filled with a mix of delightful and profound fan favorites and radio classics, ending with the powerful and confessional prayer, “Hold Me Jesus.”

Songs 2, released two years after his death, highlights his lesser hits, but fan favorites. It begins with “Step by Step,” which is more or less a reprise of “Sometimes by Step,” and is an appropriate opening for this second collection. From there, it moves onto the fun and upbeat “Where You Are,” and then the openers to Never Picture Perfect, “I Will Sing” and the closest Rich ever got to a rocker, “Hope to Carry On.”

The worshipful “I See You” is next, and if one listens carefully, can recognize Michael W. Smith in the intro. Smith recorded this for his massively successful 2002 Worship Again album.

Without going into the specifics of every song, the rest of Songs 2 is a delighful and profound mix of heatfelt poetry passionately performed to perfection. The use of illiteration there was unintentional, it is just the best way to describe the type of artist Rich was, and is only part of the legacy that Rich left behind to his audience. Though some of these songs we might not remember so well from the radio, long-time listeners would hardly argue that these choices don’t belong on his second greatest-hits album. Though true fans will probably agree that to really get a sense of Rich’s greatest hits, it would be worth every penny to just go and buy his whole discography.

Rich died in a tragic car accident 24 years ago this past week, on Sept. 19, 1997.